Cougars close season with win over East Carolina

University of Houston won its last three games of the season

Published 6:34 pm, Sunday, March 8, 2015

The college basketball regular season has ended, which means teams around the nation can begin dreaming of qualifying for or being selected to the big dance.

Do not include Kelvin Sampson among that group. The University of Houston coach has dreams that extend well beyond one season. After Sunday's regular season finale, he believes the Cougars are on the right track for longterm success.

Houston jumped to a double-digit lead in the first half and never was threatened after halftime en route to a 72-54 victory over East Carolina at Hofheinz Pavilion. It is UH's third win in a row.

The Cougars (12-18, 4-14 American) will be the No. 10 seed in the 11-team American Athletic Conference Tournament. Their first game is at 5 p.m. Thursday against No. 7 seed Tulane in Hartford, Conn.

Winning four games in four days and clinching the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament still is a possibility. Sampson said he is not thinking about that. The only thing that matters to him is the program seems to have righted the ship after a tumultuous season.

Houston Cougars forward J.C. Washington (11) passes the ball around East Carolina Pirates guard Antonio Robinson (11) in the second half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX. Houston won 72 to 54. less

Houston Cougars forward J.C. Washington (11) passes the ball around East Carolina Pirates guard Antonio Robinson (11) in the second half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 ... more

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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Houston Cougars forward J.C. Washington (11) tips the ball in against East Carolina Pirates guard Paris Roberts-Campbell (22) in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX. less

Houston Cougars forward J.C. Washington (11) tips the ball in against East Carolina Pirates guard Paris Roberts-Campbell (22) in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March ... more

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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Houston Cougars forward Danrad Knowles (0) and East Carolina Pirates guard Terry Whisnant (0) fight over a loose ball in the second half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX. less

Houston Cougars forward Danrad Knowles (0) and East Carolina Pirates guard Terry Whisnant (0) fight over a loose ball in the second half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 ... more

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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Houston Cougars cheerleaders perform the Chicken Dance during a East Carolina Pirates timeout in the second half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX.

Houston Cougars cheerleaders perform the Chicken Dance during a East Carolina Pirates timeout in the second half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX.

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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Houston Cougars forward Devonta Pollard (24) shoots against East Carolina Pirates guard B.J. Tyson (21) in the second half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX. Houston won 72 to 54. less

Houston Cougars forward Devonta Pollard (24) shoots against East Carolina Pirates guard B.J. Tyson (21) in the second half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, ... more

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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Houston Cougars forward J.C. Washington (11) is fouled by East Carolina Pirates guard Paris Roberts-Campbell (22) and forward Michel-Ofik Nzege (13) in the second half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX. Houston won 72 to 54. less

Houston Cougars forward J.C. Washington (11) is fouled by East Carolina Pirates guard Paris Roberts-Campbell (22) and forward Michel-Ofik Nzege (13) in the second half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz ... more

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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Houston Cougars forward Devonta Pollard (24) passes the ball against East Carolina Pirates forward Caleb White (2) in the second half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX. Houston won 72 to 54. less

Houston Cougars forward Devonta Pollard (24) passes the ball against East Carolina Pirates forward Caleb White (2) in the second half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in ... more

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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Houston Cougars guard Jherrod Stiggers (21) dribbles against East Carolina Pirates guard Lance Tejada (5) while forward Devonta Pollard (24) sets a pick in the second half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX. Houston won 72 to 54. less

Houston Cougars guard Jherrod Stiggers (21) dribbles against East Carolina Pirates guard Lance Tejada (5) while forward Devonta Pollard (24) sets a pick in the second half a NCAA mens basketball game at ... more

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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Houston Cougars guard Jherrod Stiggers (21) dribbles against East Carolina Pirates forward Grant Bryant (1) in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX. less

Houston Cougars guard Jherrod Stiggers (21) dribbles against East Carolina Pirates forward Grant Bryant (1) in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in ... more

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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Houston Cougars guard Jherrod Stiggers (21) is fouled by East Carolina Pirates guard B.J. Tyson (21) in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX.

Houston Cougars guard Jherrod Stiggers (21) is fouled by East Carolina Pirates guard B.J. Tyson (21) in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX.

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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Houston Cougars guard Jherrod Stiggers (21) is fouled by East Carolina Pirates guard B.J. Tyson (21) in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX.

Houston Cougars guard Jherrod Stiggers (21) is fouled by East Carolina Pirates guard B.J. Tyson (21) in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX.

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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Houston Cougars forward Devonta Pollard (24) drives against East Carolina Pirates guard B.J. Tyson (21) in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX. less

Houston Cougars forward Devonta Pollard (24) drives against East Carolina Pirates guard B.J. Tyson (21) in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, ... more

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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East Carolina Pirates guard Terry Whisnant (0) lays up the ball while Houston Cougars guard LeRon Barnes (4) watches in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX. less

East Carolina Pirates guard Terry Whisnant (0) lays up the ball while Houston Cougars guard LeRon Barnes (4) watches in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 ... more

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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Houston Cougars guard LeRon Barnes (4) lays the ball up against East Carolina Pirates forward Caleb White (2) in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX. less

Houston Cougars guard LeRon Barnes (4) lays the ball up against East Carolina Pirates forward Caleb White (2) in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in ... more

Houston Cougars guard Wes VanBeck (12) shoots against East Carolina Pirates guard B.J. Tyson (21) and guard Paris Roberts-Campbell (22) in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on ... more

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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Houston Cougars forward Danrad Knowles (0) dunks against East Carolina Pirates guard Paris Roberts-Campbell (22) in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX. less

Houston Cougars forward Danrad Knowles (0) dunks against East Carolina Pirates guard Paris Roberts-Campbell (22) in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in ... more

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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Houston Cougars forward Danrad Knowles (0) dunks against East Carolina Pirates guard Paris Roberts-Campbell (22) in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX. less

Houston Cougars forward Danrad Knowles (0) dunks against East Carolina Pirates guard Paris Roberts-Campbell (22) in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in ... more

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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East Carolina Pirates guard B.J. Tyson (21) is defended by Houston Cougars forward Danrad Knowles (0) in the second half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX.

East Carolina Pirates guard B.J. Tyson (21) is defended by Houston Cougars forward Danrad Knowles (0) in the second half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX.

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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East Carolina Pirates forward Caleb White (2) is blocked by Houston Cougars forward Mikhail McLean (1) in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX. McLean was called for blocking foul on the play . less

East Carolina Pirates forward Caleb White (2) is blocked by Houston Cougars forward Mikhail McLean (1) in the first half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX. ... more

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson yells after the Cougar turned the ball over to the East Carolina Pirates in the second half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in Houston, TX. less

Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson yells after the Cougar turned the ball over to the East Carolina Pirates in the second half a NCAA mens basketball game at Hofheinz Pavilion on Sunday ,March 8, 2014 in ... more

Photo: Thomas B. Shea, For The Chronicle

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Cougars close season with win over East Carolina

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"I wish we could start the season now. I promise you our record wouldn't be 12-18," Sampson said. "It's not like we felt we were going to make the tournament this year. My goal as a head coach coming into a new program with new players was to establish a culture and establish an identity. Now as we close the season we have a culture and we have an identity. That's most important to me."

When the Cougars take the court Thursday they will have seven scholarship players available. The season has been wrought with injuries with six players missing a combined 70 games. The biggest losses were senior forward Mikhail McLean and junior point guard L.J. Rose.

Rose's injury meant junior Jherrod Stiggers had to move from shooting guard to point guard. He still is trying to figure out the position, but Sunday's performance showed he is on the right track. Stiggers made four 3-pointers on his way to a game-high 17 points.

Those 3-pointers were one-third of UH's total output. Its season-high is 13. The Cougars had not made more than nine since Feb. 12.

Shots from deep played a big role in UH extended its lead and keeping it in the second half. The Cougars never led by fewer than 11 points after halftime. Their biggest lead was 20 points with nine minutes remaining. Devonta Pollard had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and LeRon Barnes added 14 points. Wes Vanbeck had 10 points and seven rebounds.

Houston has let some leads slip away throughout the season. Sampson said Sunday's second-half performance was a sign of how much the Cougars have grown.

"We know what we are now," Sampson said. "It didn't start with the win (over South Florida on March 1). Look at the Cincinnati game when L.J. (Rose) went down. We had the ball up eight. It's hard to lose your point guard and make adjustments that night. Look at J (Stiggers) right now comparedto that night. We've had time to practice and prepare."

The Cougars' improved play over the last two weeks may be a reason for them to dream about winning four games in four days and punching their ticket to the field of 68. Sampson and Stiggers were adament that is the furthest thing from their minds.

"I just want to beat Tulane on Thursday," Sampson said. "We have a good shot on Thursday. If we win Thursday ask me about Friday."